I read recently of a man who spent one year in prison for seeking to prevent his seven year old daughter from getting the poison shots. I do not know if this man is divorced or not, but it did not talk about a mother. There are still people being prosecuted for defying the evil dictates of our political and medical system.
I spoke with a person yesterday who believes the time is coming where there will be a war in Canada because of the direction the government is going. I told him the answer to Canada’s problem is not guns. The answer is the Gospel of Christ. If a person thinks that an armed resistance will work, they are deceived. The government has proved that it does not care about human life. They will arrest or shoot the resister and that is the end of him. The Bible shows us that those who know the true God and stand upon His Word, have a voice even from prison. A dead resister is of no value. A living saint is of great value.
In our text, Job has complained about God’s dealings with him at times. He accused God of delivering him over to the ungodly. He accused God of turning him over to the hands of the wicked. His very presence proved that to be untrue. He did not fall for the lies of the three friends. He continued to look to God for help. Job did not know it, but Satan was restricted by God from taking Job’s life. Satan was given permission to test Job, but he could not take away his true faith, nor his life.
In verse 12 Job acknowledged that life had been going well for him. He had a family and possessions. He was well respected by those around him. Things were going good. All of a sudden things started to fall apart. He described it as being broken asunder. He described it as being taken by the neck and violently shaken. Job wrongly assumed that God had made him a target for the ungodly.
In verse 13 he further described his ordeal. He felt he was in a war or as archers that were using him as a target to shoot at. He described his lot as having his bowels ripped open and his intestines being poured out on the ground. He did not see any good in what was happening to him.
Job was certainly describing a very low time in his life. He saw his life as though he was being overrun by evil people. Sadly, he wrongly assumed that God was the one who was treating him in this manner.
We can be thankful that God has recorded this for us. We can see how the devil tries to play with the mind. He is a liar, but he is also quite effective with his lies. He uses different tactics to try to break down a faithful child of God. We see that in many instances in the Bible. We know that Jeremiah faced severe trials as well. He tried to remain silent for a time, but realized that the word that God had given him was far too important for him to try to suppress it.
Job described his situation in verse 15 as being in sackcloth. Sackcloth was used as a symbol of mourning. The horn is often used in the Bible as a symbol of strength and honour. Job was reduced to a man who was sitting in sackcloth in the dust of the ground. Gone was the nice house with the comfortable furnishings. Gone was any respectable appearances. No one would come by and look at him and suggest that Job was a successful business man who was greatly blessed of the Lord. We know his three friends certainly did not see this in Job.
In verse 16 Job described his mourning. He had shed so many tears and he had no way of cleaning himself up. He was so low that he did not have the will to clean himself up.
In verse 17, Job tried again to justify himself. It was true that God was not punishing him. It was true that he had not been hypocritical in his prayers. However, he had been accusing God of mistreating him.
In verse 18 Job did not want his story to be buried. He wanted all to see the injustice that was done to him. He did not know at the time, that God was recording this entire event in His book. Every generation since the time of Job has had occasion to read and study this book. We can learn so much from this book.
In verse 19 Job declared that his witness was in heaven. He knew heaven was a place of truth. He called for heaven to witness the “injustices” being done to him. He failed to understand that God knew all about what was happening to Job. He failed to understand that what he was facing was the result of the fall of man. The charismatics prance around and claim that a faithful Christian will never face struggles like Job did. They are liars and many people have bought into these lies, even though there are many charismatics who are struggling. They die of many diseases just like anyone else. They put themselves through torment because of their false theology and most end up in hell in the end.
Job would not end up in hell, but he was certainly making his trials much worse by assuming that God was his enemy. If it were not for God’s mercy, Job could have been left to himself. God was there and was not allowing Job to fall too far from Him.
Job acknowledged that his friends were not his friends. They were his enemies. They were causing him much grief. He also acknowledged that he was still seeking help from God. He was still crying unto Him. That was good news.
He wished someone would be a mediator between himself and God. Jesus Christ is our Mediator. He was and is the eternal second person of the Godhead. He was there to intercede for Job at this time. Job did not understand the workings of God, but he was not alone.
Job also acknowledged that his time on earth was short. He would be here for a short time and then he would go away and never return. That is true. When a person dies, they will never come back to this sin-cursed world. Those who believe in reincarnation are wrong. After this life is over, there is a judgment and there is eternity in either heaven or hell. Those who are saved can know they will spend eternity in heaven. They will receive new bodies free from pain and sorrow. The former things will not be remembered. No one will sit in heaven and bemoan the trials they had on this earth. That will all be gone.
Those who are lost will spend eternity in hell. They will be reminded of the many times they rejected God’s mercy and grace. They will have all of eternity to remember loved ones who were just like them. They will have all eternity to remember the many times they scoffed at God and at those who sought to help them know the truth. There are people who receive these devotionals but don’t take them seriously. Some have asked to be removed from the mailings. It is not wise to dismiss the truth. Eternity is for ever. There is no end to it. To spend eternity in hell is a tragedy but there is no recourse. There is no opportunity to come back and try again. There are many injustices taking place on this earth now. However, to reject God’s offer of salvation is a tragedy that can be avoided. God is just in casting the wicked into hell. Heaven is a place that is free from sin. No sin can enter Heaven. The only way any person can enter heaven is through being born again. Apart from the new birth, a person is still a sinner without hope. A person can try as hard as they like to be good. Without trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, no one is good. Those who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation will be blessed with a new nature and they will be changing to become more Christlike as they live out their days on this earth. Don’t believe the lies of the New Evangelicals who suggest that Christians can be bogged down with sin just like the ungodly are. Don’t buy the lies being promoted with the ungodly music they promote. Take God’s Word as the truth and enjoy the blessings of knowing the true God today and every day. Soon the Lord will return and the saved will leave this world. Will you be leaving then?
Pastor Bartel